Shuji
Meaningoften excellent second son · Japanese
Shuji is a Japanese boy name often meaning “excellent second son”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Shuji would score 15 points, thanks largely to the J (worth 8).
- GenerationShuji peaked in 1990, which makes it a Millennial name. The typical Shuji you'd meet today is about 35 years old.
- HistoryShuji first shows up in US birth records in 1990, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 35 years since.
US births per million boys, 1990–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Shuji
Shuji is a boy name of Japanese origin meaning “often excellent second son”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
More Japanese boy names
- Unisex name: Asa · healer
- Unisex name: Rio · river
- Unisex name: Akari · light, brightness
- Boy name: Kenzo · often healthy third son
- Boy name: Kenji · often strong second son
- Unisex name: Ren · often lotus
- Unisex name: Zen · meditation
- Unisex name: Mars · god of war
Questions about the name Shuji
What does the name Shuji mean?
Shuji means “often excellent second son” and comes from Japanese. Other boy names with a similar meaning include Sterling (“genuine, excellent”), Aristeo (“the best, excellent”), Yu (“often gentle, excellent”) and Hideaki (“often excellent brightness”).
What is the origin of the name Shuji?
Shuji is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Asa (“healer”), Rio (“river”), Akari (“light, brightness”) and Kenzo (“often healthy third son”).
Is Shuji a boy or girl name?
Shuji is a boy name.
How popular is the name Shuji?
Shuji is rare: fewer than 5 US boys got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 1990. It peaked at #7,178 in 1990, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Shuji?
If you like Shuji, you might also like Sterling, Aristeo, Yu and Hideaki.
What should I know before naming my baby Shuji?
Shuji is a Japanese boy name often meaning “excellent second son”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.